The Mineral The Future Is Built On

The Mineral The Future Is Built On

Cobalt is the most important mineral of the future. It’s a key part of lithium-ion batteries, which power cell phones and laptops, not to mention electric cars. That demand is giving rise to a mining industry in Idaho, which sits atop a giant cobalt deposit. But the environmental costs of extraction raise questions about what “clean energy” really means.


Guest: Michael Holtz, freelance journalist and author of “Idaho Is Sitting on One of the Most Important Elements on Earth.”


If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on What Next. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to help support our work.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jaksot(2347)

Rebroadcast: Dupes!

Rebroadcast: Dupes!

Note: This episode was originally published on July 27, 2025. There’s an entire economy devoted to seeing what products are trending—clothing, skin care, even Greek Islands—and delivering you a cheape...

28 Marras 202530min

Decoder Ring | Cozy Autumn Mysteries

Decoder Ring | Cozy Autumn Mysteries

While the What Next team works their way from preparingfood to sleeping it off, enjoy this episode on fall’s flavorful favorites fromour friends at Decoder Ring. We’ll be back to regular programming o...

27 Marras 202551min

Why You Can't Avoid Wicked

Why You Can't Avoid Wicked

With the release of Wicked: For Good, spectacle is back in theaters and back on the press circuit: Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo are again “holding space” along with each other’s individual fingers ...

26 Marras 202525min

Could We Get Peace In Ukraine?

Could We Get Peace In Ukraine?

The Trump administration has announced a 28-point plan to end the war in Ukraine that involves ceding territory, giving up on joining NATO and reducing its military—in essence an extremely, even suspi...

25 Marras 202521min

How Planned Parenthood Got Defunded

How Planned Parenthood Got Defunded

Between the drastic budget cuts and provisions in the Big Beautiful Bill, the Trump administration has found a way to drain Planned Parenthood and other reproductive health centers and cut off access ...

24 Marras 202529min

The Surveillance Interstate

The Surveillance Interstate

Tracking a license plate across the country has never been easier, which is good news if your car has been stolen, but in an era of ICE and Border Patrol raids, these warrantless searches feel increas...

23 Marras 202527min

Bonus: SchadenFriday: Are You Fitter Than an ICE Applicant?

Bonus: SchadenFriday: Are You Fitter Than an ICE Applicant?

You can have enough ICE recruits or you can have standards for the shape that they’re in, but you can’t have both—this was just one lesson Donald Trump could have learned this week, in between hosting...

21 Marras 20255min

Crypto Keeps Criming

Crypto Keeps Criming

Trump promised to stop the “persecution” of the cryptocurrency industry. He did call off the SEC investigations that began under Biden, and pardoned Binance cofounder and ex-CEO Changpeng Zhao. But is...

21 Marras 202521min

Suosittua kategoriassa Politiikka ja uutiset

aikalisa
politiikan-puskaradio
rss-ootsa-kuullut-tasta
tervo-halme
ootsa-kuullut-tasta-2
viisupodi
rss-vaalirankkurit-podcast
et-sa-noin-voi-sanoo-esittaa
rss-asiastudio
rss-podme-livebox
otetaan-yhdet
rss-hyvaa-huomenta-bryssel
aihe
radio-antro
rss-kiina-ilmiot
rss-tasta-on-kyse-ivan-puopolo-verkkouutiset
rss-vain-talouselamaa
the-ulkopolitist
rss-kovin-paikka
rss-sanna-ukkola-show-verkkouutiset